A local man was reportedly stabbed to death by his girlfriend in the early morning hours of Friday, Feb. 19, in what Garland County sheriff's investigators believe was an act of self-defense, Deputy Courtney Kizer, the department's public information officer, said Thursday.
The Garland County Communication Center received a call at 3:04 a.m. on Feb. 19 regarding a stabbing at 2246 Mountain Pine Road, Lot 4, and deputies arrived at 3:16 a.m. and found Clifford Ashley Jr., 41, unresponsive on a bed with multiple injuries, a news release said Thursday.
There were two other people present at the residence when deputies arrived. LifeNet personnel arrived and began to treat Ashley's injuries but he succumbed to his injuries soon after and was pronounced dead at the scene by a representative from the Garland County coroner's office.
Investigators arrived and began processing the scene and evidence, the release said.
"A male and female (currently in a relationship) engaged in a verbal altercation," Kizer told The Sentinel-Record.
"During the altercation, the male made statements he was going to kill the female and began to physically attack her,' she said. "During the physical altercation, the female reached for the closest item which was a knife and out of self-defense stabbed him."
Kizer noted the investigator's case file was going to be turned over to the Garland County prosecuting attorney's office Thursday "to determine if they wish to pursue charges on the female or not."
She said as of Thursday, sheriff's investigators had not filed any charges in the incident, but the release noted the case is still under investigation and anyone with information should contact sheriff's Investigator John Crow at 501-622-3660.